St. Johns County Health Department offers drive-thru COVID-19 testing

Posted
Thursday, May 14, 2020 12:00 am

Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County has expanded COVID-19 Specimen Collection Testing to include those individuals who are asymptomatic (without signs or symptoms of COVID-19) and wish to know their current status. Tests will be given at the County Health and Human Services Building at 200 San Sebastian View in St. Augustine. Tests will be offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday.

About 150 residents were tested on Monday, according to the health department.

This point-in-time testing is not antibody testing, it is diagnostic testing to show if an individual currently has the COVID-19 virus. This will provide information regarding the prevalence of COVID-19 within our community so we can best prepare and respond to this public health threat.

Department of Health in St. Johns County’s expanded testing initiative, called “May2Day”, began on May 7, 2020 in support of the Governor’s Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida’s Recovery.

The Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County’s COVID-19 Specimen Collection for Lab Testing will be offered, while supplies last and weather permitting, on a first come, first serve basis.

Those who wish to be tested, please note the following:

This Expanded COVID-19 specimen collection/testing is a free service;

No more than four people in the car;

A form of photo identification is needed for each person to be tested;

Bring your own pen to use when completing testing forms;

For the health and safety of public health responders, all people in the car over age 2 must have a mask or other alternative face covering; and

No pets in the car.

Persons wanting a test will need to fill out two forms, listing address and emergency contacts. Once you are next in line, the test takes less than a minute. It includes having a small probe inserted into one nostril for about five seconds and then reinserted into the other nostril for five seconds.

The health department said it will call with results in as few as three days.

Additional sites may be utilized on an occasional basis, as deemed necessary, to meet the needs of vulnerable populations, which may require a change in days or times at this location.

As part of this expanded community testing effort, the COVID-19 Specimens for Testing will be shipped to a state-contracted commercial laboratory. Results of COVID-19 testing will be provided as the lab results become available to the Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County.

For more information on Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County’s COVID-19 Expanded Specimen Collection for Testing, please call 904-209-3250 or visit http://StJohns.FloridaHealth.gov/.

For information on COVID-19 in Florida, including health protection information, daily reports by county, and the COVID-19 Dashboard, please visit the Florida Department of Health’s dedicated website: https://FloridaHealthCoVID19.gov/.

The COVID-19 Call Center which is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week and can be reached at: 1 (866) 779-6121. Inquiries can also be submitted to the Florida Department of Health via email: COVID-19@flhealth.gov.